Prodigal System in the Flourishing City

Chapter 487: Chapter 485 Attack Lu Group [First Update]

Back home, Lu Xiaobu slept for a whole day, experiencing calm and tranquility.

It was as if the prior pirate incident had never occurred.

Such a lack of news was actually the best news—it suggested that Lin Feng had managed to take control, or at least temporarily, calming the Lin Family from pursuing the matter any further.

However Lin Feng accomplished it, it was good news for Lu Xiaobu.

Soon, the first ’gift’ from Lin Feng arrived.

To be precise, it wasn’t a gift but a method to enhance power.

The simplest and most effective way.

That involved the various products of Lu Group receiving varying degrees of attention, and coupled with Lu Xiaobu’s credibility being the top wealthy magnate, this led to a consistent rise in Lu Group’s business.

Of course, it wasn’t done too overtly, the growth was slow.

Though imperceptible at first, it would eventually become evident given some time.

Meanwhile, Lu Xiaobu remained as calm as ever, allowing this situation to settle further.

But, it’s hard to find peace when the winds continue to blow.

Lu Xiaobu, known for his distinctiveness and high profile which contrasted with others who quietly amassed wealth, naturally attracted numerous enemies.

And here came the trouble, or more accurately, it had been looming for a while!

This trouble wasn’t directed at him initially, but at his protege, the female academic prodigy—Zhang Shilin, ultimately affecting him as well.

The trouble started simply, do you recall the time at the writers’ association, when Zhang Shilin’s critique ”On Horses” infuriated and drove away the old-fashioned Zhu Haixuan?

They say scholars hold themselves in high esteem, and this man, who considered himself a contemporary master, having been publicly humiliated by a young girl, could he tolerate it?

Thus, this old fellow spent this period rallying, publicly denouncing!

As for Zhang Shilin, she wasn’t very attentive to these matters and wasn’t articulate.

By the time her seldom-online parents informed her, she realized she had become the target of public criticism!

Even her parents at home were alarmed, indicating the scale of the turmoil!

After all, it wasn’t just Zhu Haixuan battling alone.

It was his disciples, relatives, friends, and scholars from the literary circle who already disliked Lu Xiaobu, creating a formidable alliance.

Netizens had even given them a name, the Anti-Lu Squad!

Some went further, assigning them roles.

Leader of Anti-Lu Squad: Zhu Haixuan.

Expertise: Leveraging seniority, using literary status to criticize, attacking Lu Xiaobu and Zhang Shilin master and disciple duo for being talented but unethical.

Classic quote: ”A crooked beam results in a crooked column; a good student, taught by Lu Xiaobu into nothing more than a scold!”

...

Deputy of Anti-Lu Squad: Fu Zehao.

Expertise: Occupying the moral high ground, quoting out of context, magnifying the flaws in Lu Xiaobu’s writings.

Classic quote: ”Is this what you call literature? Is this how literature should be? After writing two articles, he insulted people in both! A disgrace to the literary world!

...

Strategist of Anti-Lu Squad: Fang Yunlong.

Expertise: Digging deep, bringing up the past. Using Lu Xiaobu’s dark history to expand influence.

Classic quote: ”I’ve said long ago that this person is rubbish, we should have completely blocked him! And yes, his disciple is no good either!”

...

The Five Generals of Anti-Lu Squad: Zhu Haixuan’s five disciples, whom the netizens say they can’t remember the names.

Expertise: Grasping at straws, stirring trouble, verbal abuse, inciting emotions, changing the subject!

Classic quotes:

”Have you ever seen Lu Xiaobu when he isn’t insulting someone? Have you?!”

”I strongly demand a re-inspection of Lu Group’s products!”

”Shitty idiot! Only these three words can express my feelings!”

”Are you guys really content being played by Lu Xiaobu?!”

”Don’t talk to me about that, I’m talking about this other thing!”

...

Against-Lu Group member: Vast Zhu Haixuan fans, spectators who love a good show, Lu Xiaobu’s haters, passersby caught in the rhythm, people with a severe hatred for the rich, and so on!

Good at: Following trends, reposting, liking!

Classic quotes: ”Heart! Like! Well said! +1! +10086!”

...

Since Lu Xiaobu is not in the country, and Zhang Shilin, the female academic ace, is as blockheaded as can be.

This has caused the Against-Lu Group to grow outrageously online without any adversaries, like an invasive species without natural predators.

And Lu Xiaobu’s die-hard fans are completely suffocated under pressure.

Looking around, it was all about condemning Lu Xiaobu.

The next day, Lu Xiaobu crawled out of bed, yawned downstairs, and then Liang Lan told him about it.

”It’s quite a big deal.”

Lu Xiaobu opened Weibo, glanced twice at the so-called Against-Lu Group leader Zhu Haixuan’s Weibo and said.

”Yeah, it’s big! It seems that today they even started bombarding the writers’ association, saying the association abandoned the writers’ baseline for money!”

Liang Lan stretched out her hand, switched Weibo screens, and handed it to Lu Xiaobu.

”Tsk tsk tsk, not bad.”

Lu Xiaobu raised an eyebrow: ”Didn’t the writers’ association say anything?”

”They did, but it was useless.”

Liang Lan opened the writers’ association’s Weibo, putting it in front of Lu Xiaobu.

It had statements from Mr. Wen, clarifying the matter.

But, totally useless.

People who love spectacles seem inherently fond of challenging authority, and seeing those authorities pressed with no words left, they inexplicably feel happy.

This had led to Mr. Wen’s Weibo being filled with abusive comments.

”Did your conscience get eaten by a dog? You still defend Lu Xiaobu!”

”Yeah, as a literary master like Mr. Zhu, how dare the writers’ association drive him away?! Who would believe what you say now?!”

”Really, each generation is worse than the last, the literary circle’s ethos is all spoiled by you!”

”Trash! Idiot! My pee writes better than your articles!”

”...”

The above words were as unpleasant as they could be.

One member of the writers’ association could not bear it anymore: ”Zhu Haixuan, you are also a writer, do you think it is appropriate to use such despicable means and vulgar words?!”

He was really annoyed, as disputes among literati are common.

But a dispute should be about literature.

Now cursing in the streets like small gangsters, what’s the deal?!

However, his words, likewise, did not catch attention and were bombarded again!

”To deal with trash, you must treat them like trash!”

”Exactly, Lu Xiaobu curses people every day, what’s wrong with us cursing him?!”

”Not just cursing him, but cursing you too! Asshole! Guard dog!”

”...”

See, they curse with such righteousness.

The people at the writers’ association were extremely angered by the online comments!

Lu Xiaobu stroked his chin, thinking about how to curse them back.